Collapsible display device



A ril 5, 1938. H. OUWERKERK 2,113,258v

V v COLLAPSIBLE DISPIJAY DEVICE v Filed May 12, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7/V O WE/P/(ERK BY 2 I AaQRNEY.

April 'H. OUWERKEI QK 2,

COLLAPSIBLE DiSPLAY DEVICE Filed May 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A AW 0a Wt /P/(ERK Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE Han Ouwerkerk, Amsterdam, Netherlands, assignor to Einson-Freeman 1110., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 12, 1937, Serial No. 142,176

9 Claims.

My present invention relates generally todisplay devices, and has particular reference to an improved device of the collapsible variety.

A device of the present character is primarily designed for use on a counter or ina store window, and. is usually composed of flexible sheet material such as cardboard. However, it will be obvious that the broader phases of the invention are not restricted to any particular mode of usenor to the use of cardboard per se. Accordingly, wherever the term cardboard is used herein, -it is intended to include within its significance other equivalent sheet materials.

The general object of the invention is to provide a device of enhanced simplicity, composed of a minimum number of parts, and requiring 'a minimum amount of manipulation to transfer the device from the collapsed or knock-down condition to the set-up condition, or vice versa.

2 The present improved device is of a character which, when set up, presents to view a series of suitably configured and embellished display panels arranged in parallel, offset planes. In the embodiment herein chosen for illustration the devicegwhen set up, displays three panels in vertical planes, each of which depicts a commodity such as a bottle of ink. The'panels project upwardly from a sloping element on which suitable advertising indicia or. descriptive matter, or mere ornamentation, may be arranged. It will be understood, however, that my invention is not restricted to any such particular depiction or commodity.

The present construction is characterized by the employment of three hinged sections, one serving as a base, another as a top; and the third one as a front wall. The top may be swung from a rear inoperative position to a forward operative position by swinging the, front end from a rear position overlying the base to a forward position in alignment with the base. Extending between the rear edges of the base and top is a rear section which serves to hold the top in a sloping relationship to the base when the device is set up. i

iii

In the preferred embodiment, the rear sec-- It is a feature of my invention to construct the trapezium in such .a manner that the com- ;,5 bined length of-the top and front end is equal By the term trapezium I- to the combined length of the base and rear section, whereby the device may be collapsed into substantially flat condition by superposing the top and front end over the base and rear section. 5

Furthermore, the parts are so proportioned that when the device is set up, the rear section assumes a substantially upright relationship to the base, thereby retaining the top in the proper sloping position.

The device is completed by providing hinged display sections or panels on the base, and slots in the top, so that these sections automatically ass'ume upright positions when the device is set" up, and automatically fold flat whenv the device is collapsed. I

Other features of construction leading to maxlmum economy of manufacture, extreme simplicity in structural nature and mode of operation, and unusual effectiveness and attractiveness from a display standpoint, will be set forth hereinafter.

I achieve theforegoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or bepointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a display device in set-up condition, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is aside view of thesame;

Figure 3 is a perspective view .of the same taken from-a rear point of view, with the device partially collapsed;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the manner of collapsing the structure, this fig- 3 ure being diagrammaticin so far as each blank .is represented only by a single line;

Figure 5 is a top view of the device in fully collapsed condition;

Figure 6 is a rear view of Figure '5; V

Figure '7 is a plan view of one blank entering into the construction; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of another blank entering into the construction.

The present device consists essentially of three I hinged sections l0, II and l2, thesection III constituting a top, the section I! abase, and the section II a front end. When the device is a set up, the end. ii is swung around the hinge axis l3 until it is in alignment with the base I2.

When the device is to be.collapsed,'the end I l isswung rearwardly around the hinge axis .l3

until it assumes a position overlyingthe base li.

Extending between therear edge ll of the base l2 and the rear edge ii of the topiilis a rear tively.

' ilarly, the length of the top is intended to refer.

Hereinafter, when the length of the rear section It is referred to, it is intended to signify the distance between the hinge axes l4 and I5. Simtothe distance between the hinge axis l5 and the hinge axis H; the front end ii is deemed to have a length extending between the axes i1 and I 3; and the base I2 is deemed to have a length extending between the axes l3 .and M.

In accordance with my invention, the combined length of the top i and the front end II is made equal to the combined length of the base. l2 and the rear section it, so that the device may be collapsed into substantially flat condition by superposing the sections l0 and II over the sections l2 and i6. when the device is set up, the alignment of the sections II and I2 causes the device to assume a position in which the cross-section is triangular; and it is afeature of my invention to make the sections II and ii of such relative lengths that when the device is set up the section l6 assumes a substantially vertical position relative to the base l2, as shown most clearly in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

In the. preferred embodiment herein illustrated, the sections Ii, l2, and II are integral portions of a single blank illustrated in full in Figure 7; and the top l0 constitutes a separate blank, il-

lustrated by itself in Figure 8. The device may be said to define, in cross-section, a trapezium having a relatively long base and relatively short ends, the lengths of the sides being so proportioned that when the front end II is aligned with the base l2 the longer end it assumes the upright position, thereby retaining the top iii in the sloping relationship to the base l2, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.- U

My invention provides for at least one display panel hinged to the base l2, and at least one corresponding slot in the top ll through which the display panel projects, the slot being so p0- sitioned that it is disposed directly above the hinge axis of the panel when the device is set up.

In-the preferred embodiment illustrated, I have shown a display panel I! formed integrally with the base l2 and hinged to the latter along the line I9. I have shown a second display panel 20.

having the two lower portions 2i hinged to the base I2 along the hinge axis 22.

The top in is provided with a slot 23 through which the panel ll projects, and with the aligned slots 24 through which the panel portions 2i project. Preferably, the panel 22 is shaped, in its upper portion, in the form of an ornamental arch 25 serving as a sort of frame for the rear portion of the device.

Preferably, also, the rear section it is provided with the integral extension-26 extending upwardassa foreement blank'aio the front end ll so as to braoethe device across the hinge axis l3 when I have illii'stratively the invention applied to a display device in which the depiction of a pen ll is incorporated with'the panel 20, and

2,118,288 section i6 which is preferably hinged to the elein which the panels ll, 2|, and 26 depict separate bottles of ink. This illustration, it will be understood, is given merely by way of example and my invention is by no means restricted to any I particular commodity.

. The outstanding advantage of the present construction lies in the fact that its adjustment from collapsedconditlon into set-up condition requires no manipulations whatsoever, except to swing the parts around the hinge axis l3, as hereinbefore described. Another outstanding advantage of the inventionlies in the fact that the main portionof it, as shown in Figure 7, is composed'of a single integral blank, thereby reducing the ex-' pense of manufacture to'a minimum.

Any desired advertisingmaterial may bepla'ced upon the sloping top II, or upon any of the upright display panel portions; and, in general, it

will be understood that the invention is susceptible to innumerable modifications, depending upon the particular use to 'which the display device of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is, therefore, intended that these'details be interpreted as illustrative an dinot in a limiting sense. I

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire A to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a collapsible cardboard display device,

three hinged sections defining a base, a front end, and a top, said top being movable from a rear collapsed position to a forward operative position by swinging said front elid from a rearward position overlying the has to a forward position in alignment with the b e, said top having a slot therein and said base having a hinged display panel extending through said slot, the hinge axis of said panel being in substantially vertical alignment with said slot when the top is in the forward operative position.

2. In a collapsible cardboard display device, the elements set forth in claim '1, in combination with a rear section engaging said base and top at the rear edges thereof, said rear section being substantially vertical when the device is.

in a slop ing hinged to and formed'integrally with said base 4. In a collapsible cardboard display device,

the elements set forth in claim .1, in combination with a rear section engaging said base and top at'the rear edges thereof, said rear section being substantially vertical when the device is set up, thereby maintaining the top in a sloping relation to the base, and. said rear section having an integral extension defining a display panel projecting upwardly beyond said top.

5. In a collapsible cardboard display device,

three hinged sections defining .a base; a front end, and a top, said top being movable from a rear collapsed position to a forward operative position by swinging said front end from a rearward position overlying the base to a forward position in alignment with the base, said top having a pair of aligned slots therein, said base having a hinged display panel with spaced portions extending through-said slots, respectively, the hinge axis of said panel being in substantially vertical alignment with said slots when the top is in the forward operative position, and said display panel defining anornamental arch framing the rear portion of the top.

6. In a collapsible cardboard display device, the elements set forth in claim 5, in combination with a rear section engaging said base and top at the rear edges thereof for maintaining the top in sloping relation to the base when the device is set up, said rear section having an extension projecting upwardly beyond said top and visible through said arch.

7. In a collapsible cardboard display device. the elements set forth in claim 1, in combination with a rear section hinged to the rear edges of said base and top, the combined length of said rear section and base being equal to the combined length of said front end and top, whereby the device may be collapsed into substantially fiat condition by superposing said top and front end over saidbase and rear section.

8. In a collapsible cardboard display device,

four hinged sections defining, in cross-section, a

trapezium with a relatively long base and relatively short ends, said device being set up by aligning the shorter end with the base to form a triangular cross-section, the combined length HAN OUWERKERK. 

